They left it late.
Very fucking late.
It wasn’t quite the final role of the dice but the penultimate one when Wes Hoolahan took to the pitch in Martin O’Neill’s second substitution of the evening.
Robbie Keane was about to become that one last, exhausted attempt to get a goal. Just one goal.
But it was a different Robbie who stepped up, pulsing with the energy and desire to save the blushes of Hoolahan who, just seconds earlier, had squandered Ireland’s best chance of the game.
The ball came to Hoolahan’s feet once more, he sent the most teasing ball of the ninety minutes into the box and Robbie Brady, of all bloody people, got his head to it.
It was unbelievable.
https://twitter.com/nbrez/status/745718617635983360
Go on the lads!!!! #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/mkLiu1HVXD
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) June 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/Bernard_Dunne/status/745718950869241856
That feeling when you want to SCREAM THE HOUSE DOWN!!…. but the baby's in bed 😷 WAHOOO #COYBIG 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
— Michael Meehan (@Meehan_MJ) June 22, 2016
Robbie Brady you absolute ride
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) June 22, 2016
Jesus Christ what a goal. San Fran has erupted #COYBIG #brady #insane
— Seánie Tobin (@Tellytobin) June 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/AnfieldRd96/status/745719072436936704
Brady brilliant today and delighted for Hoolahan he won't rue that miss. What a step-up. Brilliant cross. The atmosphere now!
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 22, 2016
Robbie Brady you beautyyyyyyy 🇮🇪🇮🇪
— Jamie Conlan (@JamieConlan11) June 22, 2016
.@FCBarcelona sign Robbie Brady now
— Jordi Murphy (@Jordimurphy) June 22, 2016
Fairytale for Ireland, hold on! 🙏🏾
— Tinchy Stryder (@TinchyStryder) June 22, 2016
This is wonderful. Close to having Republic of Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England in the last 16. Love it!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 22, 2016
#EURO2016 IRELAND are #squad #goals
— Amy Huberman (@amyhuberman) June 22, 2016
Nice goal Ireland!!!⚽️
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) June 22, 2016
What have I just seen! Big miss then goooooooallllll get in! Cmon Ireland #ITAIRL
— Jimmy Bullard (@jimmybullard) June 22, 2016
